Huskies rally late to defeat Tigers

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - After a hard-working first half, the Saint Mary's Huskies (8-9-0) earned a solid two-goal lead over the Dalhousie Tigers (1-15-1). The tides turned, however, and the Huskies found themselves down a goal with 19 minutes to go and in danger of extending their three-game losing streak to four.

Then the offence took control, reshaped the game and the outlook for Saint Mary's. Newcomer Stephen MacAulay erased the deficit when he scored his first-ever goal for Saint Mary's with eight minutes to play and Lucas Bloodoff tipped home a Kyle Pereira point shot with only two minutes remaining in the game, giving the slumping Saint Mary's squad a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. Bloodoff led the way with a goal and two assists.

Saint Mary's began the game with more resolve than Dalhousie. As a result, the Cory Tanaka line worked a fierce forecheck down low which allowed Bloodoff to get the puck to Steven Beyers behind the net, who wheeled in front and roofed a shot up and over the glove of Bobby Nadeau on the far side. The goal came just over a minute into the game. The Huskies continued to get offensive opportunities, but Tigers netminder Nadeau weathered the Saint Mary's storm.

The Huskies were able to get to Nadeau again half-way through the second period. While covering the point for a pinching defenceman, Bloodoff gathered the puck and fed a pass to an open Francis Menard at the side of the net. Menard's shot was then deflected onto the stick of defenceman Stephen Gillard who buried the puck for his fifth of the season.

Three minutes later, the Tigers scored a powerplay goal to halve the Saint Mary's lead when Pierre Vandal found a wide open Patrick Daley who beat Anthony Peters with a sneaky shot short side. It looked as if Dalhousie would not be able to build on this goal as they took a penalty the very next shift. However, during the man-advantage, the Huskies broke down defensively giving the Tigers a shorthanded 2-on-1 that was finished off by defenceman Brett Plouffe.

Dalhousie started the third period on the power-play and capitalized quickly. Andrew Wiggington gave his team the lead just 43 seconds into the period when he slammed home a pass from Brad McConnell.

The Huskies were determined to avoid losing their fourth straight as they pounded 13 shots at Nadeau in the third period. With just under eight minutes to play, Stephen MacAulay tied the game at three when he slid a Steven Shipley pass through the five hole of Nadeau marking his first goal with the Huskies since joining the team in December.

The Huskies continued pressing, passing the puck around the Tigers' zone with ease. Saint Mary's finally put the puck in the net when Lucas Bloodoff tipped in Kyle Pereira's blast from the point, the eventual game-winner.

Both teams are in action this Friday, Jan. 10. The Huskies will travel to Wolfville to face the Acadia Axemen while Dalhousie hosts StFX at the Forum.

Source: Brian Mosher for Saint Mary's Sports Information